Hey Guys,I am going to start playing for the worship band at my church and need some kind of pickup for my Martin OM-21. There are drums, an electric guitarist, Bass, Choir and Keyboards, I will be playing mostly Rhythym, strumming and occasional Fingerstyle through a PA. The couple of stores I have spoken with have reccomended the Fishman Matrix I but most of the reviews I have read of them have been pretty bad. Any insight would be much appreciated!Thanks Brian

Depending on the store, I wouldn't go for what they tell you, as most stores cater to rock-style artists who need a high-volume/non-feedback pickup, such as the Fishman. I got this recommendation and installed a Fishman, but I'm thinking about changing to an ibeam dual source or K&K once I get some money.

Make sure to get an active pickup, and perhaps an L.R. Baggs preamp, as it will help cut through that band mix and cut potential feedback. Check out Shoreline Music, they have a large selection of pickups and pretty good prices as well:

I've got two iBeams, one in my L05 and one in my Yamaha FG720-12 string. I love 'em both. None of that quacky UST sound. I've purchased a Dean Markley Tahoe soundhole mag pickup that I'm putting in my Yamaha FG150, but I haven't received it yet.

Another vote for K&K. I'm playing in a trio now with upright bass and a drummer. I have had no feedback problems whatsoever. It sounds GREAT, and I aways get good comments on my tone. B-Bands UST/AST combo is also excellent, but more pricey.

I posted a clip of my OM-05MT with K&K direct somewhere on this forum. Do a search on Busted Bicycle, and you'll find it.

David

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So many songs - so little time...Finger Picking good Folk, Blues, Gospel, Roots, Rags, and Originalswww.davidberchtold.com

Personally, for playing in a worship band setup, I like either the B-Band A2.2 or the LR Baggs iMix. They both combine a UST and AST pickup system. They are very versatile in that you can blend between the UST and AST to get the most natural sound, while avoiding feedback.

I don't know if it's just a bad installation, but I find my K&K too mid rangey for me.

Personally, I have been most pleased with the Baggs iMix system. I have it installed on both my 6 & 12 string Taylors and absolutely love it.It is the best thing I have ever used in a live setting. It mixes the best of both worlds with the iBeam and the Element with a volume control plus a mix control.The iBeam is a wonderful pickup for solo work by itself, but playing with a band you may find that the bass and drums could cause the iBeam by itself to feedback. No problem simply rotate the dial more towards the Element.The best thing is that it does not permanently alter your guitar whatsoever except perhaps at the endpin. I'm not sure about Martins, but Taylors endpins are already pre-drilled to accept the input jack.

By the way, nice little OM you have there. I've been seriously looking at adding a Martin OM to my small stable -_-

I vote K&K too, as usual. Maybe the PowerBlend Pure system (I want to try the new PowerBlend Trinity). I will say that I used the regular Pure Western pickup through a PADI and never had a feedback problem, even at fairly loud levels.

Vote for the Imix also, the Ibeam is a great solo pickup, it will pick up all the rythmic taps much better than the UST, but it is more suseptable to feedback. Usually when I play with the full band I turn it all the way to the UST and use a feedback buster, which probably isnt' necessary.

I recently added a K&K Pure Western Mini and the Pure Preamp to my L-09 and the sound is as natural as one could want. I love this rig, but I do fight occasional feedback. If only the Pure Preamp had a notch filter...

I have the Baggs active I-beam and the Baggs PARA DI . It does a great job. But.........I am sure leaning toward the K&K for my L03 just for variety. I wouldn't have any reservations about buying any of the Baggs products againCharlieP

I have a L-03R with an iBeam and a Aria AC50 classical with a K&K Pure classical. I'm happy with both of them. I run them through a Para DI. The iBeam was easier to install - they give you a jim dandy jig. The K&K doesn't require a pre-amp, I just use the Para for the EQ power. I think either one is a good choice.

I just did a comparison of my M1 (thru PADI) vs. IBeam (active) in a DV-03 last night in the church PA. Both pick up body contact sounds (brushing on clothes, tapping on the top) about equally. The M1 seemed to have more even frequency response though not as 'real' sounding, maybe because the IBeam has a preset EQ curve.

The IBeam is more airy and mic-like. It picks up fingerpicking, palm-muting, and string impact more accurately. It gets slightly muddy and thumpy under heavy strumming. The M1 has a smooth sound when strumming with very little noise from any impacts on the strings via pick, muting etc.

I have a K&K mini in my L-01 and a Fishman Active Matrix in my OM-03W. The K&K sounds much better, very natural, no quack. The Fishman is OK, I find it sounds very good for playing lead, but the K&K sounds much better overall, just like your guitar acoustically, only louder, as many have said. Before the K&K, I had a Markley Sweet Spot in my L-01, the sound didn't do too much for me. In the end, I felt it sounded even more articificial than the Fishman, with more quack and plink, especially when played with a hard attack. YMMV.

I've got the Fishman Natural Type II in a D-03, use it for strumming and picking, sounds great. Use in in combination with the Blues Jr, and whether clean or dirty; get good, clear notes with the dread full voice.

Chasing a rabbit a little....I am real happy how this D-03 has just gotten a better and better voice just in a year. Play it a lot, and it booms, yet if picking has clear tones and sustains. This is one that took no fret work, no action adjustment or work to be in prime playing condition. It's one fiiiine guitar. -_-